Texas TV Stations Air Las Vegas Sands-Backed Ads Supporting Casino Legislation

Posted on: January 29, 2025, 07:45h. 

Last updated on: January 30, 2025, 10:29h.

Television viewers in Texas are being barraged with ads supporting the approval of commercial casinos in the Lone Star State.

Donald Trump, Dan Patrick
Donald Trump and Dan Patrick, pictured above. Patrick continues to play a key role in Texas on whether casino legislation will move forward. (Image: Office of Dan Patrick)

The ads are from a political action committee (PAC) called “Texas Destination Resort Alliance” (TDRA), which is backed by Las Vegas Sands (LVS).

The ads say they come from a “coalition” of Texans who want the state legislature “to allow us the opportunity to vote yes on a statewide constitutional amendment authorizing the development of destination resorts in the state’s major markets.”

The ads are getting noticed by key analysts of the state’s political scene.

The goal with these ads is to soften the ground politically for expanded gaming,” Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston, told Casino.org.

But more needs to happen.

“For a major policy change like establishing destination resorts in Texas, it will take several sessions and a lot of money to move the needle,” Rottinghaus cautioned.

Political Climate Changes

“The deck is likely stacked a little more against gambling in 2025 than was the case in 2023, for two principal reasons,” added Rice University Professor Mark P. Jones.

“First, several pro-gambling Republicans were either ousted in the GOP primary or opted for retirement in the face of a potential primary challenge due to their voting against Gov. [Greg] Abbott’s (R) signature school choice legislation in 2023 or their vote to impeach AG [Attorney General Ken] Paxton (R) in 2023,” Jones told Casino.org.

Second, the new Speaker of the House, Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock), is working to burnish his conservative credentials after having been elected with Democratic support over the Republican Caucus-endorsed speaker candidate (David Cook of Mansfield) who was backed by more than three-fifths of the Republican House members.”

“He is going to be less likely to want to antagonize those Republican grassroots activists and primary voters who oppose casino gambling during his first session,” Jones added.

Dan Patrick Has Influence

Still, Jones said casino gambling isn’t dead in the water in Texas.

Until Lt. Gov. [Dan] Patrick signals that the Texas Senate is open to considering casino gambling legislation, Speaker Burrows is going to be unlikely to want to burn political capital and potentially alienate grassroots activists who are already wary of him because of the way he became speaker by relying on Democratic votes to propel him past the official GOP nominee.”

In recent years, LVS and others have lobbied for casino legislation. In July, it was recommended that Texas should open at least five destination casino resorts, LVS Senior Vice President of Government Relations Andy Abboud, whose company is among those eager to capture a license, said at a roundtable.

Senate Joint Resolution 16, which was written by state Sen. Carol Alvarado (D-Houston), was introduced already. If approved, the legislation will clear the path for a statewide vote on casinos and gaming in Texas.